IRRIGATION OF T11E GARDEN. 193 



Lettuce, Spinach and Parsley. These relishes 

 are subject to the same general methods of cultivation and 

 irrigation. The writer has been growing them by the 

 border system. The beds within the borders should be 

 rectangular, and flooding is the only method of irrigation 

 in such cases. It is well to have a wetting given prelim- 

 inary to sowing the seed. Irrigation is not needed again 

 thereafter unless the plants show signs of wilting from 

 drouth. Then on a dark day or late in the afternoon give 

 a quick flooding of an inch or so and run the water off 

 as quickly as possible, as no great depth of moisture is 

 required by such crops, which are mostly surface feeders. 

 If lettuce is to be grown for seed occasional irrigations 

 may be applied throughout the summer. 



Roses. A rosebush needs water. Watering once a 

 month will never produce an abundant crop of rose 

 petals. The bushes seldom get more water than is good 

 for their digestion. A garden hose thrust near a bush 

 and the water allowed to flow freely for an hour or two 

 every day will furnish enough moisture for the roots. 

 Of course, when the delicate young plant is first set out 

 this generous way of giving the. bush a footbath must 

 not be attempted. Young plants require some protec- 

 tion at night until their tissue stems have changed to 

 woody fiber. On occasional days they may need gome 

 shelter from a too ardent sun. The soil about the rose- 

 bush needs occasional loosening. Virgin soil needs but 

 little fertilizing aid, as a general thing, but a bucketful 

 of barnyard manure spread over the ground and often 

 flooded with water never harms a growing plant. It 

 does rosebushes but little harm to cut off the tops of the 

 more thrifty growing stems, and this plan generally re- 

 sults in a better crop of roses, but too much trimming 

 and pruning is bad. We would not advise irrigation of 

 the rose or any other bush, tree or shrub after the middle 

 of August, or the first of September at the very latest. 

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